Back in 2015, the Super Bowl of a lifetime took place; the No. 1-ranked defense faced off against a top-five offense. That offense was led by a future seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Tom Brady.
That game ended dramatically as future All-Pro cornerback Malcolm Butler would give up a deep ball to the Seahawks, where the ball bounced around five times before Jermaine Kearse caught it. However, he made up for it with the game-winning interception later that drive.
Now, 11 years later, those same teams will face off in the Super Bowl yet again. What do the Patriots need to do to get it done again?
Offense Needs to Step Up
The Patriots’ stellar offense has hit a wall heading into the Super Bowls. They scored a combined total of only 54 points in the last three playoff games. To compare, the Seahawks have scored a total of 71 points in only two games.
This Patriots’ passing offense, specifically, has been stagnant in the playoffs. Led by Drake Maye, who was the league leader in completion percentage, is now eighth in postseason completion percentage. Maye has proven he can be great, as he only lost the MVP by a single vote for this Super Bowl, but the Patriots need MVP candidate Maye, not playoff Maye.
For this Super Bowl, where this Patriots team lacks in passing offense this postseason, it more than makes up for it in the run game. Currently, the Patriots’ Rhamondre Stevenson, who played averagely throughout the regular season, is now leading in rushing yards this postseason. It also helps that their backup was an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, TreVeyon Henderson.
The rush will always be able to open up the pass. This Patriots pass offense will be able to open up if these rushing attacks continue as they have been.
Patriots’ Phenomenal Defense
It’s an understatement to say this defense is phenomenal. This defense leads in yards per game and sacks in this postseason. However, this core did take a hit in the AFC Championship game as captain linebacker Robert Spillane went down with an ankle injury. Currently, he is not practicing.
Thankfully for New England, he returned to practice as a limited participant at the end of this week, but losing him could be a very big factor in the Super Bowl.
In order to win the game, going up against a Super Bowl MVP in Cooper Kupp and Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Patriots will be looking to their other defensive star, Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez as well as Carlton Davis III, who is second in interceptions this postseason.
In the trenches are Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, and K’Lavon Chaisson. Barmore, throughout the regular season, was seventh in pass-rush win rates. Milton Williams has eight pressures and a 28% pass rush win rate; those stats led the AFC Championship game.
To top it all off, K’Lavon Chaisson is currently tied for second for the most sacks this postseason.
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Seeing Ghosts?
The Patriots do have another thing going for them this weekend. Sam Darnold has never beaten the Patriots.
Darnold’s stat line going into this weekend is nine interceptions and only one passing touchdown against New England. Darnold has not performed well against the Patriots in his career, so going into this game, expect the Patriots’ defense to put a lot of pressure on him and try to force him to “see ghosts” again.
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